Circulating stabilizer-reamer and bumper



March 5, 1968 c. J. CARR CIRCULATING STABILIZER-REAMER AND BUMPER y L w W y g c. a M J. 4 c W J f i 2 y o, i w m U ,M 2% w @y 2 M I u i, @l T .F .i- /a GIL 2 7 7/ TM5 9 /6 o EL United States Patent O 3,371,729 'CIRCULATING STABILIZER-REAMER AND BUMPER Charles J. Carr, 3079 W. Orange, Anaheim, Calif. 92804 Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,133 Claims. (Cl. 175-293) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination fluid circuating stabilizer reamer and 4fbumper tool for drilling wells engageable in an elongate drilling string of fluid conducting drill pipe and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and 'defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central 'body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central ow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and hafving splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally eX- tending formation engaging stabilizing vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the 4body engages the bumper surface on the barrel.

This invention relates to an oil Well tool and is more particularly concerned with a novel combination circulating type stabilizer and/ or reamer and bumper tool for use in connection with rock drilling bits and associated drillI collars and drill pipe strings.

In the art of drilling wells it is common practice to arrange a rotary cone type rock bit on the lower end of a string of drill pipe and to rotate and lower the bit and drill pipe string into the earths formationto establish a well bore.

yIt is also common practice to arrange an elongate drill collar between the bit and its related drill pipe string, which collar is in the nature of a heavy gauge, stiff and/ or strong section of drill pipe and serves to assist in maintaining control of the direction in which the wall is established by preventing twisting and/or iiexing of the drill string immediately above the bit as a result of the weight and torsional forces applied onto and through the string.

Further, it is common practice to provide stabilizers in the drilling string between the bit and the drill collar and/or between the drill collar and the drill pipe string, which stabilizers ordinarily involve a sub-like body en- 3,371,729 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 gaged with and between its related bit and collar and/ or the collar and drill pipe string, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending and radially outwardly projecting formation engaging vanes. The stabilizers, by engaging the bore of the well, above the bit, serve to maintain the collar central in the well and prevent undesired drifting of the bit as might otherwise occur if the collar was permitted to shift laterally in the wall.

The use of such stabilizers is particularly important in the satisfactory carrying out of directional drilling operations, Where, but for such stabilizers, the collars would drop to and remain at the bottom or lower side of an angularly `disposed or inclined well bore.

Frequently, stabilizers such as set forth above also serve as reamers to clean the well bore and/or ream it out to gauge, as when the bit becomes worn and/or undergauged.

There is a great tendency for stabilizers and reamers of the character referred to above to become balled, that is, to become caked and packed with mud and cuttings to such an extent that they become stuck in the Well bore and stop circulation therethrough. While this balling of reamers and stabilizers cannot be prevented, various means have been provided and are employed to inhibit such balling of said tools, or to clean the tools after they have become caked or balled up.

The two most effective and practical means provided to remove cake or ball from a reamer or stabilizer, or to inhibit the establishment of such a ball, include:

One, the provision of circumferentially extending ports in the vanes of the tools to allow for the flow of circulating fluid therethrough;

Two, the provision of valve controlled ports in the reamer-stabilizer, which ports can be selectively opened to direct high pressure jets of circulating fluid into or onto the packed material, to wash it away; and,

Three, the provision of bumper subs, that is, splined tools engageable in the drill string and which can be operated to hammer and pound the balled tools free by suitable raising and lowering the drill string.

Each of the above means has proven to be quite successful in certain situations and wanting in others.

It has been found that in those situations Where circulating ports in the vanes and/or the valve controlled circulating means is ineffective, a combination of the two may be effective. Where both of the circulating means is ineffective, the bumper means may prove effective, and vice-versa.

Further, it has been found that where no one or a pair of these means is effective, a combination of all-three is, in an overwhelming number of situations, effective.

In those situations where a combination of such means is not successful, it is ordinarily necessary that a special tool be run into the Well to cut the -Vanes of the reamers or stabilizers free.

It is to be noted that the reamer-stabilizers and bumper subs, provided by the prior art, are separate tools and are ordinarily purchased from distinct sources.

In the art of well drilling, it is up to the driller to select the reamer-stabilizers and/or bumper subs that he believes or feels will be necessary and to assemble and make up his drilling string with these tools, as best he can. In such cases, it will be apparent that the several tools are, in fact, independent and separate from each other and must be handled and treated as such.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel combination, circulating stabilizer-reamer and bumper.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool of the character referred to wherein the bumper means is related directly to the stabilizer-reamer means and carries valve means for opening and closing ports of suitable duid circulating means related to the stabilizer-reamer portion of the construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool of the character referred to wherein the bumper and stabilizer-reamer means are so related that the above-mentioned valving means serves as the hammer or impact means for the bumper.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character referred to wherein the fluid circulating means is such that it can be operated to cut and to remove the vanes from the tool and to free the tool, should normal circulating and/ or bumper fail to free the tool.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool of the character referred to which is easy and economical to manufacture and use or operate.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool which is less expensive, which requires fewer parts, which is easier and quicker to make up, and which is easier to operate than manufacturing, making up and operating separate circulating type reamer-stabilizers and bumper subs.

Another use to which my new tool is particularly adapted is off-shore drilling, where the drilling rig is arranged on a ship or barge and where provision must be made for the elevation of and the lowering of the drill pipe as a result of the rise and fall of the sea on which the drilling ship or barge is floated. In this special art of drilling, elongate, axially extensive, splined, sub-like tools, in the nature of bumper subs, are employed to allow and/or compensate for the rise and fall of the ship or barge.

It will be apparent that by simply elongating the splined bumper portion of the instant tool, it can be advantageously employed in the place of the ordinary stabilizerreamer units and the elongate axially extensible subs presently employed in off-shore drilling.

It will be further apparent that the tool that I provide is particularly adapted for use in establishing hole or drilling a well bore, in the so-called spudding method of drilling, wherein a bit having a special jet is employed and the drilling string is raised and lowered in such a manner as to hydraulically reduce the formation adjacent to and in advance of the bit. With the instant tool, the bit can be allowed to rest on the bottom of the bore hole and the string raised and lowered in such a manner as to cause my new tool to act as a pump and to intermittently ram fluid into and through the bit, at increased pressures. It will be apparent that the bit, during the spudding operation, is driven into the formation by the hammering action afforded by the bumper portion of the tool.

It is to be understood that, in practice, the valve Controlled fluid circulating means could be eliminated or disposed with and/ or the fluid circulating means in the vanes could be disposed with, without departing from the broader aspects of this invention, that is, a combination stabilizer and bumper tool.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of my new tool, showing it engaged between a bit and drill collar in a well;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

as indicated by line as indicated by line The upper assembly U includes an elongate, vertically extending, cylindrical body B with a central, longitudinal flow passage P, an enlarged head H at its upper end and an elongate mandrel M depending from the lower end of the body.

The head H that I provide has a flat top surface 10 with a central upwardly projecting threaded pin 11, which top surface and pin are adapted to stop against the bottom end 12 and to engage in a downwardly opening threaded box or socket 13 at and in the lower end of a drill collar C, or at and in the lower end of a bottom stand of drill pipe in a drill pipe string. The head H iS further provided with or defines a downwardly disposed annular stop shoulder 14 at its lower end.

The body B has a straight, cylindrical outer surface 1S and is provided at its upper portion with a plurality of eircumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending, radially outwardly projecting splines 16. The splines 16 are established integrally in or with the body by a suitable machining operation.

The lower portion 'of the body, below the splines, is straight and uninterrupted.

The mandrel M at the lower end of the body is a simple, cylindrical extension of or on the body and is of reduced diameter. The mandrel is provided at its lower end with a radially outwardly projecting annular stop flange 17, which flange is equal in diameter with the body.

It will be noted that the mandrel M cooperates with the lower end of the body to define an annular, downwardly disposed stop surface 18.

The upper assembly further includes a bumper sleeve S engaged about the mandrel M and between the flange 17 and stop surface 18.

The mandrel M and sleeve S are made separate for the purpose of or to facilitate assembly of the construction, as will be apparent from the drawings.

The sleeve S is initially split, longitudinally, into two halves. The two halves are engaged about the mandrel and are welded together as indicated at W.

The sleeve S is greater in outside diameter than the body B and its upper end projects radially outwardly from the lower end of the body to define an annular, upwardly disposed bumper surface 20.

The bumper sleeve S serves the added function of a valve member and is provided at its upper and lower end portions with a set or plurality (three) of axially spaced, radially outwardly opening sealing ring-receiving grooves 21 in which suitable sealing rings 23 are engaged and carried.

The sealing rings 23 can be of any suitable type and in the case illustrated are shown as split steel or cast-iron sealing rings.

It is to be noted that the flow passage P is coextensive with the upper assembly U and communicates with a flow passage in the collar C, at its upper end and with the interior of the lower assembly U, as will hereinafter be described.

The lower` assembly L includes an elongate, sectional barrel-like body, hereinafter referred to as the barrel. The barrel has an upper elongate cylindrical section 30 with a central bore 31 entering its upper end and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending and radially inwardly projecting splines 32 and in and with which the upper splined portion of the body B is slidably engaged. A straight counterbore 33, of reduced diameter, continues from the bottom of the bore 31. The lower portion of the body B is slidably engaged in the bore 33.

The counterbore 33 is provided with an annular radially inwardly opening sealing ring receiving groove 34 in which an annular O-ring seal 35, or other suitable sealing ring structure, is arranged to seal between the body and the counterbore.

A radially extending aperture 36 is provided in the wall of the lupper section to communicate between the bottom of the bore 31 and the exterior ofthe barrel and through which mud and the like which might find its way into the construction when the related splines are in their axially extending condition, can be expelled.

The upper end of the upper section 30` of the barrel is straight and flat, defining an upwardly disposed striker surface 37, which surface opposes and is engageable with the downwardly disposed striker surface defined by the head of the upper assembly.

The lower end of the upper section is provided with a downwardly convergent, threaded pin 39, which pin has a flat bottom end defining an annular, axially downwardly disposed, striker surface 40, which striker surface opposes and is engageable with the bumper surface on the bumper sleeve S.

The sectional barrel of the lower assembly L further includes an elongate vertically extending lower cylindrical section 50 with a central bore S1 entering its upper end and terminating at a bottom 52. The section 50- is provided with an internally threaded box or socket 53 at its upper end, concentric with the bore and in which the pin 39 at the lower end of the body of the upper assembly is engaged. The section 54) is further provided with a downwardly opening `threaded socket or box 54 entering its lower end and in which a pin 55 on a bit related to the tool is engaged.

The section 50 is provided with a central flow passage 56, which passage extends between and establishes communication between the bottom of the bore and the box 54 and with a flow passage 57 in the bit.

The structure is shown as further including a downwardly convergent annular valve seat 59 at and between the bottom 52 of the bore and the flow passage 56 and on or in which a suitable retrievable valve member M is selectively and removably engaged.

The lower section of the barrel is further provided with a plurality (three) of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending, radially outwardly projecting formation-engaging stabilizing and/ or reaming vanes V.

The vanes V can be of any desired longitudinal, radial and circumferential extent, can extend parallel with or in angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the tool and can be xed or secured to the -barrel of the tool in any desired or suitable manner.

In the case illustrated, the vanes are shown as being angularly related to the longitudinal axis of the tool and as having upper and lower ends 66 and 61, radially outwardly disposed formation engaging surfaces 62 and flat, radially extending, substantially circumferentially disposed front and rear surfaces 63.

The vanes are further provided with dove-tailed bases 64, which bases are cooperatively engaged in the dovetailed grooves 65 formed in the outer wall of the lower section of the barrel.

The lower ends of the grooves 65 are open and their upper ends are closed. The vanes are slid into engagement in their related grooves from the open bottom ends thereof and are held captive therein by means of suitable blocks 66 engaged in and closing the lower ends of the grooves.

The blocks 66 are fixed to the barrel and in their related grooves by suitable screw fastener means.

Each vane V is shown as having a longitudinal, laterally opening slot '70 through which circulating fluid is free to flow as the tool is rotated in a well and in the circulating uid or mud in the well. Such ow of circulating iluid through the vanes serves to reduce the torque required to rotate the tool and also inhibits 4the tendency for the tool to become balled or packed with circulating uid or mud and the like.

The slots 70 define a flat, radially inwardly disposed longitudinal surface 71.

The structure provided by this invention further includes a pair of radially extending, registering llow ports 75 and 76 in the base portion of each vane and in the adjacent wall of the lower section of the barrel, which ports communicate with the bore 51 in the barrel and with their related slots 70 in the vanes. The ports serve to direct jets of circulating fluid outwardly onto the surfaces 71 of the slots, when the tool is actuated, as will hereinafter be described.

In addition to or in the place of the ports 75-76, circumferentially spaced, radially extending ports 77 can be provided in the body, between the vanes to direct jets or streams of circulating uid directly onto the adjacent formation in a well.

The ports 75-76 and/ or 77 are arranged in the body to occur and communicate with the upper portion of the bore 51 therein and below the lower end of the bumper or knocker sleeve S of the upper assembly when the knocker sleeve S is moved upwardly into engagement with the striker surface 40, and so that they occur between the spaced sets of sealing rings 23 carried by the knocker sleeve S, when the upper assembly is moved downwardly relative to the lower assembly and the stop shoulder 14 of the upper assembly stops against the striker surface at the upper end of the lower assembly.

It will be apparent that the sealing rings 23 seal with the bore 51 in the barrel.

While I have shown blade-type vanes V, it will be understood and it is believed apparent that other types of formation engaging means, such as rollers, can be employed in place of the vanes illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In operation, when the tool is engaged in a drilling string and is lowered into and is rotated in a well, the weight of the drilling string occurring above the tool can be relieved from the bit below the tool, or the parts and/ or portions of the drilling string below the tool, by elevating the string so that the upper portion or assembly of the tool is moved upwardly and the stop shoulder 14 is shifted up and out of engagement with the striker surface 37. Such movement can be slight and such that the ports 75-76 and/ or 77 are not uncovered by the bumper sleeve.

If it is desired to bump the tool up and/or down, to

lfree the vanes or other parts of the drilling string that might become stuck in the well bore, the upper section of the tool is shifted downwardly relative to the lower section and to its lower position. Thereafter, the drilling string and upper section of the tool is elevated rapidly so that the bumper surface 2li of the upper end of the bumper sleeve engages and stops against the striker surface 40 in the barrel, thereby driving the tool upwardly with a sharp blow, and the upper assembly can be moved upwardly relative to the lower assembly, by elevating the drill pipe string, and then lowered rapidly from its up position so that the stop surface 14 at the upper end of the upper assembly strikes and stops against the striker surface 37 at the top of the barrel, thereby driving the tool downwardly with a sharp blow.

When the upper assembly is in its up or elevated position, as illustrated, the ports 75-76 and/ or 77 are open and will by-pass a certain amount of circulating uid flowing through the construction, but circulation through the bit is not shut off.

If it is desired to ush the cutters or to flush between the cutters with high pressure fluid, to remove a balled or to reduce and remove a portion of the surrounding formation, the valve member M, which is a typical godevil type valve member, is introduced into the drill string at the top of the well and is pumped downwardly therethrough into seated engagement in the seat V59 of the tool, below the several ports. Thus, all circulating fluid is directed out through the several ports and in such a manner as to flush and clean the construction.

During the above operation, pump pressure at the top of the Well can be increased as desired.

It will be apparent that when the ports 75-'76 are provided the jets of fluid impinge upon the surface 71 of the 7 slots 70 in the vanes V and the fluid is directed laterally by said surfaces and in such a manner as to flush and clean the exterior of the construction in a most effective manner.

It will be apparent that if it becomes necessary to cut or otherwise remove the vanes V, to free the drill string from the well in which it is arranged, sand can be introduced into the drilling fiuid and pumped under increased pressure downwardly through the drill string and, thence, outwardly through the ports 75-76 to impinge upon and cut the vanes.

When the vanes are cut as indicated above, they are so weakened that they can be readily collapsed, intermediate their ends, and in such manner or to such an extent that removal and withdrawal of the tool is no longer difiicult.

After the above-noted cleaning and/ or flushing operations have been completed, the valve member M can be easily and conveniently fished from the well by a suitable mousetrap socket or go-devil type of tool oir the end of a wire line, or the like.

When the tool that I provide is used in spudding operations, that is, when it is desired to make or attempt to make hole by preventing rotation of the drill string and by directing a high pressure stream of drilling fluid into and onto the formation adjacent and in advance of the bit, the bit is rotated to a predetermined position and is lowered into seated engagement on the bottom of the well bore. When the bit is thus oriented and seated, the upper assembly of my tool is reciprocated relative -to the lower assembly and in such a manner that upon each downward stroke of the upper assembly, the bumper sleeve and mandrel act as a piston in the bore 51 and increase the pressure on the fluid flowing through the tool and through and out of the related bit. Such increases in pressure, or surges in the stream or jet of fluid issuing from the bit, are highly effective in reducing the formation and are also highly effective in flushing and removing the cuttings from the bottom of the bore and from about the bit.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have invented an extremely simple, easy and economical-tomanufacture tool, which tool is adapted to perform a plurality of special functions, each of which was previously carried out by a special tool.

Further, it will be apparent that my new tool performs and carries out the several functions for which it is intended in a simple and most effective and economical manner.

Having described only a typi-cal preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate lcentral body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elonga-te cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging stabilizing vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel.

2. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; sealing means between the upper bore and the lower portion of the body portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface on the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel.

3. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion, being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define on upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radial, fiuid conducting ports in the barrel communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when said bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal between the bumper head and the lower bore and arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the fiow passage in the barrel, and valve member adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion of a drilling string related thereto and to engage in the seat to stop the iiow of uid through the flow passage in the barrel.

4. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal fiow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion,vbeing splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel havng a central fiow passage and a tool jont porton at ts lower end, a lower bore in -the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receivin-g the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radial, iiuid conducting ports in the barrel and communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when said bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper vhead to seal with the lower bore and aranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the fiow passage in the barrel, a valve member adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion of a drilling string related thereto and to engage i in the seat to stop the flow of fluid through the fiow passage in the barrel, said port arranged to occur between the vanes and to direct fiuid streams radially outwardly onto the walls of a related well bore.

5. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body porltion of reduced diameter depending from the head poran elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central fiow passa-ge and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper boreslidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, and said vanes having circumferentially opening longitudinal slot-like openings.

6. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinally shifting therein, an -annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface in the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, and said vanes having circumferentially opening longitudinally slot-like openings, radially extending fluid conducting port in each vane and its adjacent portion of the barrel and establishing communication between the lower bore and the slot, said ports communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when the bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal with the lower bore and arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the flow passage in the barrel, and a valve member adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion of a drilling string related thereto and to engage in the seat to stop the flow of fluid through the flow passage in the barrel.

7. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; sealing means between the upper bore and the lower portion of the body portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface on the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, said vanes having circumferentially opening longitudinal slotlike openings, a pair of axially aligned radially extending fluid conducting ports in each vane and its adjacent portion of the barrel and establishing communication between the lower bore and the slot, said ports communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when the bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal with the lower bore and arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the flow passage in the barrel, and a valve member adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion of a drilling string related thereto and to engage in the seat to stop the flow of fluid through the flow passage in the barrel, said slots in the vanes defining flat, radially inwardly disposed surfaces opposing the ports and upon which streams of fluid issuing from the ports impinge.

8. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly `disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion .at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly `disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion,

a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; sealing means between the upper bore and the lower portion of the body portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface on the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, said vanes having circumferentially opening, longitudinal slot-like openings, a pair of axially aligned, radialy extending fluid conducting ports in each vane and its adjacent portion of the barrel and establishing communication between the lower bore and the slot, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending, fluid conducting secondary ports in the barrel, between the vanes, said ports communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when the bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal with the lower bore and arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the flow passage in the barrel, and a valve member 4adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion of a drilling string related thereto and to engage in the seat to stop the flow of fluid through the flow passage in the barrel.

9. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal flow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and defining an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central flow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, a lower bore in the barrel and terminating therein to define an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, .a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; sealing means between the upper bore and the lower portion of the body portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface on the barrel, to .a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, said vanes having circumferentially opening, longitudinal slot-like openings, a radially extending fluid conducting primary port 1n each vane and its adjacent portion of the barrel and establishing communication between the lower bore and the slot, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending, fluid conducting secondary ports in the barrel, between the vanes, said ports communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when the bumper head is in its up position, sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal with the lower bore and arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position an-d to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat `at the bottom of the lower bore and concentric with the ow passage in the barrel, and a valve member adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion thereof and to engage in the seat to stop the flow of fluid through the ow passage in the barrel, said slots in the vanes deining flat, radially inwardly disposed surfaces opposing the ports and upon which streams of fluid issuing from the primary ports impinge.

10. A well drilling tool of the character referred to engageable in a drilling string and including, an elongate body having a central longitudinal ow passage, a tool joint portion at its upper end, a head portion below the tool joint portion and dening 1an annular, downwardly disposed bumper surface, an elongate central body portion of reduced diameter depending from the head portion, the upper portion of said body portion being splined, `an elongate cylindrical bumper head depending from the body portion and defining an upwardly disposed annular striker surface at its upper end; an elongate barrel having a central ow passage and a tool joint portion at its lower end, `a lower bore in the barrel `and terminating therein to dene an upwardly disposed bottom, said lower bore cooperatively receiving the bumper head for longitudinal shifting therein, an annular downwardly disposed bumper surface at the upper end of the lower bore and opposing the striker surface on the bumper head, an upper bore continuing upwardly from the lower bore, said upper bore slidably receiving the lower portion of the body portion, a socket in the upper end of the barrel and having splines slidably receiving and engaging the upper splined portion of the body portion; an annular upwardly disposed bumper surface on the upper end of the barrel opposing the striker surface on the head portion; sealing means between the upper. bore and the lower portion of the body portion; and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially longitudinally extending formation engaging vanes fixed to and projecting radially outwardly from the barrel, said body being shiftable from an up position where the bumper surface on the bumper head engages and stops against the striker surface on the barrel, to a down position where the striker surface on the body engages the bumper surface on the barrel, said vanes having ciroumferentially opening, longitudinal slotlike openings, a radially extending fluid conducting primary port at each vane and establishing communication between the lower bore and the slot, a plurality of cir- -cumferentially spaced, radiallyl extending, fluid conducting secondary ports in the barrel, between the vanes, said ports communicating with the lower bore below the bumper head when the bumper head is in its up position, axially spaced upper and lower sealing means carried by the bumper head to seal with the lower bore, said lower sealing means arranged to occur above the ports when the bumper head is in its up position and to occur below the ports when the bumper head is in its down position, an annular valve seat at the bottom of the lower bore concentric with the ow passage in the barrel, and a valve member .adapted to be introduced into the tool through the upper portion thereof and to engage in the seat to stop the ilow of fluid through the ow passage in the barrel, said slots in the vanes dening at, radially inwardly disposed surfaces opposing the ports and upon which streams of fluid issuing from the primary ports impinge, said secondary ports .adapted to direct uid streams radially outwardly onto the walls of a related well bore.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,678,806 5/1954 vBrown 175-301 2,721,055 10/1955 Madson et al. 175-293 2,818,232 12/1957 Osmun 175--293 2,877,851 3/ 1959 Richardson 175-294 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner. 

